NEW CASTLE —
New Castle school board members and administrators are expected to come to an understanding that could revive the Lockley school renovation/consolidation project at a workshop session next week.
Armed with information presented at last night’s special session, the school board will meet at 6 p.m. Monday.
The meeting will be a non-voting session. If the district decides to proceed with the project, that vote will most likely come at the board’s November meeting.
Last week, board members by a 5-4 vote rejected bids for a $22.9 million project to consolidate the district’s four elementary schools into one learning center.
Board members Dr. Marilyn Berkely, Anna Pascarella, Barbara Razzano, Mary Ann Tofel and David DiGiammarino voted against the project.
Voting to proceed were Stacey Fleo, Mark Kirkwood, Karen Humphrey and president Allen Joseph.
At last night’s session, financial experts Chris Bamber of Public Financial Management, Joseph Muscatello and John McShane of Boenning and Scattergood Inc., and bond counsel Patrick Healy of Cohen and Grigsby of Pittsburgh, explained the funding process.
If the district goes forward with the project, which is supported by federal and state tax money, zero percent financing and reimbursements for a portion of the project, the district will pay $18 million for its new building. If the district pulls out and does not build, it will cost in excess of $9 million to terminate bonds obtained to support the project. In addition, they said, these funds would not be available to the board if it rejects this project, then considers another plan.
After the meeting, district business administrator Joseph Ambrosini noted that the district has already spent $1.3 million and still has bills and contractual obligations associated with the project.
The board meeting room was filled with more than 50 people standing after chairs were filled. Many of those present were current and former teachers in the district who pleaded with board members to reconsider their vote.
Construction manager John Hayes, of Thomas and Williamson, asked board members what their vote had been — to terminate the project or to reject the bids.
Told the vote was to reject bids, Hayes noted that “that is done all of the time.” He said the board had not actually killed the project and if the district wanted, they would not even have to seek new bids. He said the district could contact bidders, make adjustments and still award the project to the lowest responsible bidder.
Some board members, concerned at the potential $9 million loss faced by the district if bonds are to be “unwound,” said they had not had this financial information before and asked why.
Superintendent George Gabriel said board members were sending mixed messages to the administration, noting that some of the five now opposed to the plan had supported it in the past.
Joseph said that opposition board members in the past had voted to pay bills associated with the project.
Some board members who voted against the project last week indicated a willingness to revisit the figures. Some spoke of reducing the scope of the project, thus lowering the cost, or reconsidering savings anticipated by closing three of the district’s four dilapidated elementary schools.
Tofel, who had voted no last week, asked to call a buildings and grounds committee meeting.
Gabriel advised “this is something for the whole board.”
Following the meeting, Gabriel, who submitted his resignation last week, which was accepted by the same 5-4 vote, said he still plans to retire on Jan. 31.
“I still have some fire in my belly,” he said. “I’d like to see the project through.”
TOP STORIES
Related Photos
-
Teachers and community members erupt over a comment at the school board meeting. Scott R. Galvin
Related Links
Discussion
Photo Gallery, Story: New Castle may revive Lockley project
- TOP STORIES
-
-
New Castle Schools: Finding pinpoints nonpaying out-of-district pupils
New Castle school board members are waiting for the final determinations of a state audit that contained three preliminary findings. Earlier this month the board publicly discussed those findings from the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years, and the district administration has responded to two of them to the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General.
-
Photo Gallery, Story: Ceremony remembers fallen officers
Last year there were 12. This year, there are 13. The law enforcement community paused Thursday to remember Lawrence County’s fallen officers in a ceremony outside the New Castle police station.
-
Photo Gallery, Video: Procession, flag-waving crowds salute fallen policeman
Throngs of people crowded along East Washington Street Wednesday, paying final tribute to fallen officer William J. “Jerry” McCarthy IV. A motorcade of about 20 motorcycles and more than 200 police cruisers, all with flashing red and blue lights, created a sensation as it rode slowly toward Shenango Township.
-
Pulaski officer honored for heroic efforts
A Pulaski Township patrolman was named April 2013’s Officer of the Month by the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
-
County considering jail privatization
Lawrence County government officials are mulling the idea of privatizing the jail. The matter came to light when a company toured the 268-bed facility after answering a request for proposals that was sent out by the commissioners.
-
New PennDOT website to outline road, bridge work
Pennsylvania senators hit the highway Tuesday at the end of their May session without confronting a bill that would pour billions into road and bridge repairs and construction.
-
Hilcorp might drill in Neshannock Township
Marcellus Shale drilling could be moving into Neshannock Township. A Hilcorp Energy Co. representative said during the Neshannock supervisors meeting Tuesday that the company has leased Millennium Park property off King’s Chapel Road for possible drilling.
-
Suspect in officer’s death jailed in county
Kylee Gwen Barletto was composed walking into court Monday until a television reporter pelted her with questions. Escorted by two state troopers, she was asked, “What do you have to say to the police officer’s family?” “I’m sorry,” she uttered as she was ushered into the court lobby. Then she burst into tears.
-
Abortion doctor found guilty of murdering babies
Dr. Kermit Gosnell, the 72-year-old abortion doctor accused of murdering four babies after they were allegedly born alive during abortion procedures at his Philadelphia clinic, was found guilty of three counts of first-degree murder Monday.
-
‘A Great Person’: Dan Gallatin remembered as fireman, Mason
The Lawrence County firefighting community was saddened last week by the loss of one of its brothers. Dan Gallatin, 68, a member of the Scott Township Volunteer Fire Department for nearly 40 years, was killed Tuesday when the motorcycle he was riding was hit from behind on Route 956 in Hickory Township.
- More TOP STORIES Headlines
-
